Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise 35 like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 36 Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Jesus has been speaking about the destruction of Jerusalem and the final fulfillment of God’s plan. As he comes to the end of this discourse, he turns from describing events to warning his disciples about their inner disposition. The focus is no longer on signs in the world but on what takes place in the heart.
In biblical language, the “heart” is the center of the person, where thoughts, desires, and decisions are formed. In verse 34, Jesus warns the disciples to not let their hearts become drowsy. A “drowsy” heart is not physically asleep but spiritually dull and unresponsive. Jesus names two broad causes of this drowsiness.
The first is “carousing and drunkenness,” which points to a life of excess, distraction, and self-indulgence. In such a life, pleasure becomes a way of escaping from the seriousness of God’s call. The second is “the anxieties of daily life,” which are not obviously sinful, but can weigh down the heart in another way. Worry over daily concerns, when it dominates a person, can absorb all attention and leave little room for God. Taken together, these two tendencies show that a heart can become drowsy either by seeking constant entertainment or by being consumed with ordinary cares.
Jesus then warns that if the heart drifts into this drowsiness, “that day” can “catch you by surprise like a trap” (v. 34). Jesus takes up the prophetic language of the Old Testament (Is. 13:6-9; Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18-20) and applies it to the coming unfolding of God’s plan, which includes both near events (such as the fall of Jerusalem) and the final coming of the Son of Man.
A trap is effective because it springs suddenly on someone who is not alert. In the same way, the day of the Lord is not something a person can manage or delay. It exposes what has been taking place in the heart over time. The danger is not that the day will arrive too quickly, but that the heart will not be prepared when it does.
Jesus emphasizes the universal scope of this reality (v. 35). The language is strong: the day will “assault” or come upon all. This shows that no one is outside the reach of God’s final reckoning. Because of this, Jesus does not only say “beware.” He gives a positive command: “Be vigilant at all times and pray” (v. 36). Vigilance is steady watchfulness. It means living with an awareness that God is real, that his kingdom is already present and moving toward its fullness, and that choices matter in the light of eternity. This watchfulness is not meant to produce fear or constant speculation about dates and times. Instead, it shapes daily life so that a person remains turned toward God in the midst of ordinary responsibilities.
Vigilance in Luke is frequently joined to prayer (v. 36). Prayer is not simply an extra practice added to life; in this context, it is the way a disciple receives strength from God. On their own, people do not have the power to remain faithful under pressure. Through prayer, they acknowledge their dependence on God and open themselves to his sustaining grace.
The phrase “to escape the tribulations that are imminent” (v. 36) does not promise a removal from all suffering. In Luke’s Gospel and in Acts, many who remain faithful to Jesus experience trials, persecution, and hardship. To “escape” here is best understood as being preserved from falling away when difficulties come. The strength given through prayer enables a person to endure tribulation without abandoning faith.
The goal of this vigilance and prayer is “to stand before the Son of Man” (v. 36). Earlier in the chapter, Jesus has spoken of the Son of Man “coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Lk. 21:27). To “stand before” him suggests a final moment of accountability when each person’s life is manifested before the Lord. Those who have remained vigilant, relying on God in prayer, are able to stand before him with confidence, not because they have been flawless, but because they have lived in relationship with him rather than drifting into forgetfulness.
In this passage, the emphasis falls on the kind of heart that will be ready whenever “that day” comes. Jesus’ words describe disciples who keep their attention fixed on God, receive strength through prayer, and are prepared, in the end, to stand before the Son of Man.
Lord Jesus, keep our hearts from becoming drowsy through distraction or worry. Teach us to be vigilant and to pray with trust, so that, strengthened by your grace, we may be ready to stand before you when you come in glory. Amen.
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Sources and References:
- The Holy Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition (2011).
- Bernard Orchard et al., A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture (1953).
- Faculty of the University of Navarre, The Navarre Bible: Luke (Four Courts/Scepter).
- José Enrique Aguilar Chiu et al., eds., The Paulist Biblical Commentary (2018).
- Raymond E. Brown et al., The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (1990).
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